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News and Events - 2009
Department of Homeland Security Announces the Posting Of The Program Guidance for the FY2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) Grants, November 6, 2009Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the posting of the Program Guidance for the FY2009 SAFER Grants. The Program Guidance document for the FY2009 SAFER Grants provides a wealth of information on the SAFER program including the implementation of recent legislative changes and program priorities. The guidance may be found at the Web site for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program – >>www.firegrantsupport.com. The FY2009 SAFER program has approximately $210 million available for Grants. The application period will begin on November 16, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time and the deadline for receipt of the SAFER Grant applications will be 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 18, 2009. The automated applications will be accessible from the Web site for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program at >>www.firegrantsupport.com. The SAFER Grants are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. Secretary Napolitano Announces New Proposed Standards for Private Sector Preparedness, October 16, 2009Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new proposed standards for a 9/11 Commission-recommended program for the private sector to improve preparedness for disasters and emergencies. "Preparedness is a shared responsibility and everyone—including businesses, universities and non-profit organizations—has a role to play," said Secretary Napolitano. "Ensuring our private sector partners have the information and training they need to respond to disasters will strengthen our efforts to build a culture of preparedness nationwide." DHS published a notice in the Federal Register today seeking public comment on three new standards identified for adoption under the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that enables private entities—including businesses, non-profit organizations and universities—to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector. For further information, visit >>www.FEMA.gov/privatesectorpreparedness. >> CDC, Travelers Health Site Has Been Updated to Include New Information About H1N1 Flu, October 13, 2009
>>Crisis Camp Philly--Addressing the Disaster Mitigation Needs of All PeopleThis event will take place October 24-25, 2009 at Temple University and will bring together disability advocates and policy makers, domain experts, developers, crisis mapping experts, disability studies scholars, assistive technology experts and others to explore the limits of Universal Design as it applies to disaster mitigation. Discussion topics include wireless & SMS text practices in disaster reporting; augmentative and alternative communication (ACC); and mobility issues in disaster response and recovery. >>Register to participate online or in person. >>Emergency Management with Special Populations Certificate ProgramTemple University is offering online classes to help the public health workforce and emergency managers to address the needs of special populations, including people with disabilities and older Americans. CMS, Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted
a Web page that provides information concerning Medicare's Annual Open
Enrollment, which is from Nov. 15 - Dec. 31. Each year plans change what
they cost and what they cover. The National Aging in Place Week 2009The National Aging in Place Council is pleased to announce that National Aging in Place Week 2009 will be commemorated from October 12-18. Find answers to common questions about hosting an event. >>About the Event. . . >>Organizing a National Aging in Place Week Event: Common Questions. . . NCD, National Summit on Disability Policy 2010Hosted by the National Council on Disability (NCD), >>the National Summit on Disability Policy 2010 commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with a reception, an ADA retrospective and a series of working meetings. The results of the meetings will help shape disability policy and programs for the next decade. The National Summit is an invitation-only event. If you are interested in attending, please review the >>participant information and complete an >>application. Deadline for submitting an application to attend the summit is October 15, 2009. FEMA Launches the Redesigned “FEMA en Español” Web Site, October 9, 2009In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, today FEMA begins a new phase of multilingual information sharing with the launch of a redesigned “FEMA en Español” web site. The new site is a central location for Spanish-speaking disaster survivors to register for assistance or search for displaced loved ones through the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator system. It is also a tool for individuals and families to get information on topics such as preparedness, recovery and mitigation. The site features a clear format on the main page for ease in locating needed topics, such as general information on disasters, or the ongoing federal recovery efforts in American Samoa. During disasters, the private sector plays a critical role in emergency management. FEMA encourages all organizations interacting with Spanish-speaking audiences to visit >>www.fema.gov/espanol. Use this web site as a tool and help the agency reach the widest possible audience for preparedness, response, and recovery. White House Issues Presidential Proclamation: Fire Prevention Week 2009, October 2, 2009"As powerful as any force in the natural world, fire deserves our utmost attention. Unchecked, fire can destroy homes, devastate our environment, and, at its worst, injure or fatally harm individuals. Fire Prevention Week is a time to learn about important fire safety issues and empower our communities to stay "Fire Smart." It is also a time to honor our Nation's brave firefighters and volunteers who risk their lives to protect their fellow Americans. >>See the full proclamation. . . House Hearing on “Preparedness: State of Citizen and Community Preparedness” , October 1, 2009House Committee on Homeland Security. Preparedness: State of Citizen and Community Preparedness. Washington, DC: Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. >>See the prepared Statements and archived video feed. . . As FEMA Responds To American Samoa, Federal Agency Prepares for Typhoon Melor, October 2, 2009The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced ongoing preparations for Typhoon Melor in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam. As Typhoon Melor gains strength, FEMA continues to closely monitor the storm with the Hurricane Liaison Team at the National Hurricane Center. These important preparations take place as FEMA continues to work with its federal partners to support Governor Tulafono and American Samoa as they respond to Tuesday's tsunami. >>Press release. . . Tsunami in American Samoa, September 30, 2009A magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck near Samoan Islands and generated three separate tsunami waves that hit Samoa, neighboring American Samoa and Tonga. CDC provides important information about the health concerns that can result from a tsunami. >>Learn more . . . Testimony of DHS Secretary Napolitano on Homeland Security, September 30, 2009Department of Homeland Security. Testimony of Secretary Napolitano before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, “Eight Years after 9/11: Confronting the Terrorist Threat to the Homeland” (Written Testimony). >>Read the statements and testimony and view the webcast. . . HHS, Secretary Sebelius Awards $40 Million to States to Find, Enroll Children in CHIP, Medicaid, September, 30, 2009HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $40 million in grants to 69 grantees in 41 states and the District of Columbia to help them find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). “Today’s awards will help fulfill President Obama’s pledge to assure the health and well-being of our nation’s children,” said Secretary Sebelius. “With millions of Americans either out of work or otherwise struggling to make ends meet during this recession, there is an even greater urgency to bring steady, reliable health care to children in these families who may have lost their coverage.” >> Full press release. . . HHS, 2009 Healthy People 2020 Public MeetingsThe purpose of these meetings is to receive public comment on the draft Healthy People 2020 objectives and topic areas. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is interested in receiving recommendations on strategies to make national health improvement progress across a range of diseases, conditions, behaviors and determinants of health. Meetings are open to the public. Questions can be submitted before the meetings, which will be held in October and November 2009 in Kansas City, KS, Philadelphia, PA, and Seattle, WA. Find out more and/or register >>here. . . CDC, 2009 H1N1 Flu & You, September 30, 2009This new brochure released by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) describes flu symptoms, emergency warning signs and provides information for people with chronic health conditions or disabilities including cancer, blood disorders (including sickle cell disease), chronic lung disease, neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis) and weakened immune systems (including people with HIV/AIDS). >>See the brochure. . . NCD, The Current State of Health Care for People with Disabilities, September 30, 2009The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released a report calling for immediate health care reform for people with disabilities. The report provides a road map for eliminating the pervasive barriers to health care for people with disabilities, which will improve the quality of life, productivity, and well-being of greater numbers of Americans as the population ages. The complete report can be downloaded in >>Adobe PDF or >>Microsoft Word formats. Pass It On Center, Survey on Assistive Technology Reuse & Emergency Planning, Management and Response, September 30, 2009>>The Pass It On Center is developing an emergency response system based on an existing network of Assistive Technology (AT) Centers. At the foundation of this project is a national survey designed to develop an understanding of the current involvement of a variety of programs in efforts related to assistive technology reuse and emergency planning, management and response. Information obtained will be vital to developing effective emergency response systems for all populations. >>Take the survey. . . House Hearing on Flu Vaccine Program, September 29, 2009House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Administration’s Flue Vaccine Program: Health, Safety, and Distribution. Washington, DC: House Hearing, . >>Read prepared statements. . . FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program Changes Effective October 1, 2009, September 29, 2009On October 1, 2009, important changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will take effect. There will be an increase in rates, the standard deductibles, and the basic insurance limits. These combined changes will result in an average premium increase of 8 percent. The increases will apply only to policies that are written or renewed after October 1, 2009. >>Read more. . . Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, Emergency Preparedness & Response for People with Disabilities, September 17, 2009The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council released a paper on the importance of effective management of emergencies of all types across the life cycle of disasters (preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation) for people with disabilities, their families and their support systems. >>Read more. . . National Commission on Children and Disasters, “Commission Urges President and Congress to Make Children a Priority in Disaster Planning”, September 15, 2009.The National Commission on Children and Disasters today approved an Interim Report to President Obama and Congress. The report identifies several shortcomings in disaster preparedness, response and recovery and provides recommendations designed to make children an immediate priority in disaster planning. Most disaster planning fails to address the unique needs of children. This means the unique needs of children are less likely to be considered when medicines are developed, when school and child care staff are trained, and when families are separated in the aftermath of a disaster. >>Full press release. . . GAO Releases Report on Public Alert and Warning System, September 9, 2009Government Accountability Office. Emergency Preparedness: Improved Planning and Coordination Necessary for Modernization and Integration of Public Alert and Warning System (GAO-09-834). Washington, DC: GAO, September 2009, 40 pages. >>See the report. . . FCC Reports on Informal Consumer Complaints Regarding Access to Telecommunications for People with Disabilities, September 8, 2009The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau has announced information about informal consumer complaints processed by its Disability Rights Office during the first quarter of 2009. The complaints covered access to telecommunications services and equipment, telecommunications relay services (TRS), closed captioning, accessibility of video programming providing emergency information, and hearing aid compatibility. On February 1, 2008, CGB launched a new database tracking system for informal complaints, the Consumer Complaint Management System (CCMS). Consumers can access this complaint form at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/form2000c.html. >>Full press release. . . CDC, Action Steps for Parents of Children at Higher Risk for Flu Complications , September 4, 2009The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information that provides important steps parents can take to keep children at higher risk (children with chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, metabolic conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders) from getting sick with the flu, including proper hygiene, getting vaccinated and how to recognize if your children are sick. >>More information. . . Acting Surgeon General, The USPHS Commissioned Corps: A Global Emergency Preparedness & Response Asset. Public Health Reports, September–October 2009 / Volume 124The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, is one of our nation's most important, yet perhaps least known, public health resources. As America's uniformed public health professionals, the Commissioned Corps' 6,200-plus officers are trained and equipped to respond to any national health threat, including public health crises and national emergencies. >>Full text. . . HHS Announces $25.7 Million in Grants to Expand, Improve Health Centers August 23, 2009Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced more than $25.7 million in grants to increase and improve health and support services at the nation's health centers. Patients receive care at health centers regardless of their ability to pay. The centers offer many forms of medical care including checkups, immunizations for children, dental care and prescription drugs, and mental health and substance abuse services. >>Read more. . . GAO Releases Report on Flood Insurance "Write Your Own" Program, August 21, 2009Government Accountability Office. Flood Insurance: Opportunities Exist to Improve Oversight of the WYO Program (GSAO-09-455). Washington, DC: GAO, August 21,2009, 83 pages. >>See the report. . . HHS and ED, H1N1 Guidance for Colleges, Universities & Institutions of Higher Education, August 20, 2009The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education (ED) have announced new guidance for institutions of higher education to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season. >>Press release. . . For the complete H1N1 guidance for higher education institutions and the special H1N1 Higher Education, click >>here. For the corresponding Toolkit click >>here. . . HHS Issues Rule Requiring Individuals Be Notified of Breaches of Their Health Information August 19, 2009New regulations have been issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) requiring health care providers, health plans and other entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) to notify individuals when their health information is breached. The regulations require health care providers and other HIPAA covered entities to promptly notify affected individuals of a breach in the privacy of their records, as well as the HHS Secretary and the media in cases where a breach affects more than 500 individuals. >>Read more. . . HHS and DOC, Federal Guidelines Encourage Employers to Plan Now for Upcoming Influenza Season, August 19, 2009Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new guidance for businesses to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season. The guidance, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is designed to help employers prepare now for the impact that seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza could have this fall and winter on their employees and operations. >>Full press release. . . Office of the President, Health Insurance Reform & People with Disabilities August 13, 2009Mike Strautmanis, Chief of Staff for Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, and the father of a child with a disability, explains how health insurance reform will eliminate health insurance discrimination against people with disabilities. >>Read more. . . NCD, Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities & People with Disabilities, August 12, 2009The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a report calling on federal, state and local authorities to make sweeping changes in emergency management practices for people with disabilities. See the report >>here. Grants.gov Web Site Offers New Feature for Information on Applying for All ARRA Federal Grants, August 3, 2009On August 3, 2009, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius unveiled a new feature on Grants.gov to help users find and apply for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant opportunities. Grants.gov contains information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs, including grants for health, education and housing programs. >>Press release. . . NIH Issues Research Plan on Fragile X Syndrome and Associated Disorders, July 30, 2009The National Institutes of Health has developed a research plan to advance the understanding of fragile X syndrome and its associated conditions, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency. Fragile X syndrome causes intellectual and developmental disabilities and results from a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome. >> Read more. . . DHS Secretary Napolitano on Preparedness in Address at the American Red Cross, July 29, 2009Department of Homeland Security. “Secretary Napolitano’s Remarks On Preparedness At The American Red Cross.” >>Read her remarks. . . FEMA Administrator Meets With Governors to Discuss Emergency Preparedness, July 22, 2009In meetings with governors Administrator Fugate stressed the key role the public plays in preparedness efforts. The more Americans do now to prepare their families, including developing a family emergency plan, the more effective response teams will be. >>Full press release. . . $851 Million in Funding for Community Health Centers, June 30,2009First Lady Michelle Obama has announced the release of $851 million in grants to address immediate health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for millions of Americans. Find a community health center in your state. >>See full statement. . . HHS Rescinds Medicaid Regulations, June 30, 2009Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius announced that the administration will rescind all or part of
three Medicaid regulations that were previously issued and delay the
enforcement of a fourth regulation. One of these rules would have
eliminated reimbursement for school-based administrative costs and costs
of transportation to and from schools. Preparedness Reports, Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, April 6, 2009The Preparedness Report is a digest of informational links that contain current news clips, press releases and new information from a variety of sources on the subject of emergency preparedness and disaster response that we believe may be of value to you. For the most recent report (April 2009), click >>here (PDF format). For other reports or to subscribe online, click >>here. Promoting Safe Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities Release, National Disability Authority (NDA), April, 3, 2009 The NDA has launched an important new publication entitled ‘Promoting Safe Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities’. The publication is aimed at ensuring the speedy and safe evacuation of public buildings by people with a disability, particularly in the event of an emergency. The NDA is the lead state agency on disability issues to the Government of the Republic of Ireland, providing independent expert advice on policy and practice. To read more about the publication, click >>here. To download the publication, click >>here. >>FEMA
Adds Industry Outreach To IPAWS Website,
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